Spring Garden Spa (Photo via Google Maps)
By Maria Rocha-Buschel
Police arrested two people and are looking for a third in connection with multiple robberies that took place at an East 16th Street spa since the end of April.
Police said that 20-year-old Shaquasha Goldstein and 33-year-old Eric Dineen, who were caught outside the Papaya Dog at 239 First Avenue last Saturday at 6:43 p.m., allegedly used deception to get inside the Spring Garden Spa at 344 East 16th Street, west of First Avenue, on multiple occasions to steal cash from the register.
Police said that Dineen and the person who wasn’t arrested rang the bell at the business on Friday, May 4 at 10:30 p.m.
When the victim answered the door, Dineen allegedly pushed the employee to get inside with Goldstein and the third person. Police said there is video surveillance of Dineen entering the business.
According to the district attorney’s office, Goldstein attempted to go behind the register and take cash but was unable to get away with any because the drawer was locked.
Police said that Goldstein went into the spa on two other occasions and allegedly successfully got away with money. Goldstein allegedly went inside the spa on Monday, April 23 around 10 p.m. and took $200 from the register.
Police said that Goldstein also got inside the spa two days later with two other people who weren’t arrested and allegedly stole $180.
Goldstein was charged with burglary, robbery and petit larceny and Dineen was charged with robbery.
Attorneys for Goldstein and Dineen could not be reached for comment by T&V’s press time.
Town & Village called Spring Garden Spa, but an employee said the worker who was at the business at the time doesn’t speak English.